Opinion: Did Summernats 38 feel like the 'Nat's of old?
- Kalen Ziflian
- Jan 12
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 13
The sun has set on the 38th running of Australia’s largest car event, and for the first time in recent history, the drive home with the regulars didn’t include whining.
To be clear, sore heads were aplenty, but there was an otherwise uncharacteristic and warming glow when it came to the event itself. It definitely wasn't the weather, which dropped unceremoniously by 20 degree's on the final day!
This was the 28th or 29th Summernats I’ve attended. The exact number is unclear, and we put it down to a couple of reasons. Firstly, we’re talking pre-iPhone timelines here – remember the old Kodak film roll? See the images here for examples.
The second and far more likely reason is a function of what the event was back then – a blur of alcohol-fuelled madness. The good type that goes into the fuel tanks of certain special cars, along with the type that goes into tanks of the human variety. I’m certain the contagion was also a by-product of age and resulting stupidity. But I digress.
It’s important to reflect on life at times, and I’ve always found this event to be a good way to put a close to the year just gone and look towards a new one. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the Summernats of old is dead – not because that’s how anyone wants it, but because the world doesn’t operate like that anymore.
What I do know is that this is the first in several years where the event has felt a little more like the old days. Without sounding too much like a soon to-be-middle-aged whinger, I loved it.
There are a few reasons, but in my humblest of opinions the biggest was the nature of the 130,000 strong crowd. It’s hard to put a finger on it, but ultimately, it felt like there was a larger representation of car people than the hangers-on who are more intent on attending to play up.
Nowhere was this more evident than on the cruise route. Yes, the endless heckling for tyre shredding was there and so it should be, but it never went overboard and most importantly, the drivers were allowed to have a little fun.
The fact that very few were trying to jump over barriers was helpful, especially on Saturday afternoon, witching hour for the event. An attribute that I think was aided by the overpasses now built in, and the crowd itself. There were various moments where I thought a shutdown like the last few years was imminent.
I was tremendously surprised to see proceedings continue. It’s a credit to the security team who were able to keep things in control without upsetting anyone.
On those overpasses – I’ve seen commentary online complaining about the need to navigate the stairs et al. Fundamentally, it was feedback given last year that was received by team Summernats and implemented. The outcome is better than last year’s tall fenced-off crossings in multiples.
It was also wonderful to see far more families and females at the event, especially on the Saturday afternoon. I was taken aback at first, but as a father of two young daughters quickly following dad’s footsteps into the motoring world, it gave me hope.
Until Summernats 38, I wouldn’t have considered bringing them along. The eldest, a 12-year-old, asked this year. My sheepish reply that it’s a “boys thing that I’ve done with Uncle Mike for years and it’s best to stay that way” didn’t really hit the mark.
The crowd were largely well behaved when it came to them too – the usual chanting was evident at times, but it certainly wasn’t as rampant as prior years.
The addition of events like drifting are not new, but the effort for exposure to different subsets of enthusiasm is also starting to show in the entrants. Theres always a rotor or two, but this year there was everything from what appeared to be a vintage Model-T ford, to various rotors, modern Japanese cars (albeit modified to the teeth), diesel drivelines in the Top 60 (!!!), a mint 40 series Landcruiser doing laps amongst other modified fourby’s, and the usual bevy of Hot Rods.
It’s unclear whether this is architected by the team when choosing entrants, but it was different and I think it’s a good thing. Variety is the spice of life and characteristic of the motoring scene in Australia. Events like this adjusting themselves is a great way to build a broader community that can help with the challenges each subset face.
The Top 60 hall also demonstrated the growing breadth of representation. Not one, but two TA22 Celicas, Duramax powered builds, and street driven weapons featured amongst the bevy of elite builds.
And then there is the Braddon Festival, which has become one of my favourite fixtures of Summernats. This year was the biggest yet, with good vibes, tunes, food and cars to enjoy right through to midnight every night.
But it’s hard to keep everyone happy, and it frustrates me when I see negative posts about the car community and the event from locals. I do wonder if they read the Region Canberra article from last year, where author James Coleman divulged the $46m poured into the local coffers over the 4 days.
I wonder where the top-up into the state balance sheet would come from without this event?
Onwards to Summernats 39!
Comments